A little something that means the world to the heart

It's only recently that we have come to understand, the impact of stress on our bodies, or the physical havoc that emotional trauma can wreak. We're still finding out what price we pay - though we know it's a heavy one - for some of our unnatural everyday lifestyle issues like working night shifts, or spending all day doing computer work. There are aspects of our own bodies that we only vaguely understand, and that's part of what makes us so miraculous. 14 Sep 2011 13:11

Heart & Stroke Foundation awards platinum seal to Willowton Group

Willowton Group has been awarded the Platinum Seal of Appreciation by the Heart & Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA) for supporting the fight against heart disease and stroke - South Africa's leading non-infectious killers. 14 Sep 2011 09:03

Male-female ring finger proportions tied to sex hormones in embryo; may offer health insights

Biologists at the University of Florida have found a reason why men's ring fingers are generally longer than their index fingers - and why the reverse usually holds true for women. 8 Sep 2011 11:34

Mural cells from saphenous vein could have long-term benefits in heart attacks

Stem cell therapies promise to regenerate the infarcted heart through the replacement of dead cardiac cells and stimulation of the growth of new vessels. New research has found the transplantation of stem cells that reside in human veins can help in the recovery of a heart attack. The findings could lead, in the next few years, to the first human clinical trial. 6 Sep 2011 14:14

Poor sleep quality increases risk of high blood pressure

Reduced slow wave sleep (SWS) is a powerful predictor for developing high blood pressure in older men, according to new research in Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association. 6 Sep 2011 14:04

Heart disease, the world's biggest killer - Dr Mungal-Singh

"Heart disease will kill a third of men and a quarter of women in South Africa," says Dr Vash Mungal-Singh, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation. "Think about that. Four couples are around a dinner table. At least two people will die from heart disease. Two of your friends. Gone. Heart disease is the world's number one killer and sits at number two in South Africa, second only to HIV/Aids." 2 Sep 2011 13:57

Promoting heart health in September

It's only recently that we have come to understand, the impact of stress on our bodies, or the physical havoc that emotional trauma can wreak. We're still finding out what price we pay - though we know it's a heavy one - for some of our unnatural everyday lifestyle issues like working night shifts, or spending all day doing computer work. There are aspects of our own bodies that we only vaguely understand, and that's part of what makes us so miraculous. 1 Sep 2011 10:18

SA challenged during Heart Awareness Month

This September is Heart Awareness Month, with the theme, "One world, one home, one heart, one test". The challenge is on for every South African, regardless of race, age or gender to do just one thing to improve their heart's health. 31 Aug 2011 10:10

Heart disease... Get tested!

One in three men and one in four women in South Africa will fall victim to heart disease - and the figure's rising. Make sure you're not ONE of them. 18 Aug 2011 14:04

Leading cardiac treatment at Life Vincent Pallotti

One of South Africa's leading facilities of its kind, the Life Vincent Pallotti Cardiac Unit is committed to providing superior treatment for the full spectrum of cardiac conditions. 16 Aug 2011 09:15

Prescribed minimum benefits - know your rights

Confusion still reigns over the interpretation of the Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMB) regulations introduced by the Medical Schemes Act in January 2004. Ian Taylor, executive practice head - healthcare at PSG Konsult Corporate believes that it should not be viewed with the same trepidation as a 'dreaded disease'. "The best defence," he says, "is for members to be as informed as possible." 15 Aug 2011 12:32

Take stress seriously!

South Africans are resilient, capable people but could our strong, 'let's get on with it' temperament be preventing us from acknowledging and dealing with potentially dangerous stress levels? 4 Aug 2011 13:57

Better monitoring of blood pressure in pregnancy could reduce health risks for mother and baby

Pre-eclampsia, which can lead to stillbirths, premature births, low-birth-weight babies and, in extreme cases, the death of the mother, is generally considered to be a unique condition in pregnancy. 28 Jul 2011 09:23

Sensi gets FDA clearance

July 2011 brought good news to the future of heart auscultation. Diacoustic Medical Device Company received notification that their Computer-Aided Auscultation device, Sensi, has been approved and cleared by The United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The company says this is a big milestone in the history of Diacoustic as having a device approved by the FDA is something many companies struggle to achieve. 21 Jul 2011 12:37